The U.S. is cursed with an overabundance of resources devoted to the military. Big and shiny takes precedence over what works. From Semper Doctrina at semperdoctrina.substack.com:
Drones, Missiles, and New Dominance Cycle Loops
We humans have been using rocks, clubs, and knives as weapons for a long time. Our early human ancestor, Homo habilis, used them over two million years ago. It took a long time – – 1.6 million years! – – for the next big leap in technology: Around 400,000 years ago, we began to use the simple spear, first as a sharpened stick for thrust attacks, and then later as a stone-tipped, thrown projectile.
My favorite primitive weapon to mention is, though, the atlatl, shown above. These showed up on the scene about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. (And, yes, we waited a while for this development; we were limited to the humble spear, for ~370,000 years! ) The atlatl uses a lever with a cup, fitting the end of a lighter, smaller spear. You might have used one, or seen one at a park or beach, like the beloved, dog ball launcher below.
The atlatl was a formidable weapon, a weapon that ruled the battlefield for 10,000 years. The spear-thrower is a long-range weapon and can readily launch its projectile over 800 feet and at speeds of nearly 100 mph! In the film Apocalypto (2006, directed by Mel Gibson) there is a graphic scene depicting the use of an atlatl on a fleeing prisoner. The attacker’s use of atlatls gives them significant advantage in both range and lethality, allowing them to devastate their opponent even before the initiation of close combat.
The atlatl is still in use today, by hunters and by historical enthusiasts for sport: It is legal to hunt with an atlatl in many US States.
ATATL WAS SUPPLANTED BY BOW AND ARROW, KICKING OFF AN EVER-FASTER SERIES OF BATTLEFIELD DOMINANCE CYCLES
Einstein said that WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones.
Back to the primitive will be a rude shock for the Techno Triumphalists.
Over abundance of “elites” will cause the collapse?
Participation trophies belong in the trash.